An ad so good you can't poo-poo it

Wednesday

Jul 23, 2014 at 1:01 PM

Don’t you just hate it when you have to admit to yourself that you’ve just spotted some very good marketing, despite the fact that the result sets your teeth on edge, and then to find marketing which is so utterly fabulous, even if you have no burning need for the product, you buy it anyway as a sort of retail “bravo” to the marketing team.

Let me give you a few examples. Years ago back in Sydney there was a brilliant ad man who produced the world’s most irritating commercials which proved to be incredibly successful. One I remember was for a rinky-dink supermarket chain which prided itself on its cheap prices, and the tagline for the commercials was delivered by a man blessed with a high pitched nasal enriched twang, asking “Where do you get it?” – that being the translation of what you actually heard “weardjagitit?”

Somehow that line was always delivered several decibels higher than anything else on television, and seemed to rival the boom of a jumbo jet flying overhead.

So irritating was it that, even if the mom and pop chain offered to pay me to come and get their groceries, I would never darken their door, and I’m proud to say I never did.

Likewise, I find the two morons who are filmed sitting in a car while noshing away at burgers, shakes or fries so annoying, Sonic will never have my car oil dripping on their driveway. I’m just a one-woman protest march against stupidity in advertising. It makes me grit my teeth and shudder.

On the other hand, you come across remarkable ad campaigns cleverly linked to social media so you are pleasantly bombarded hour after hour.

The absolute best I have ever seen caught my eye the other day. When I first saw it, I thought it was a gag, but when it showed a website I had to check it out.

I don’t want to put you off your Cheerios, but I’m afraid I just must. The product is from a company called Poo-Pourri (www.poopourri.com) and the ad is presented by a terribly, terribly proper English miss, sharing with us our horror of having to go to the bathroom and leaving a lingering – shall we say – odor behind.

The product, with his and her fragrances with apt names such as Deja Poo, which is obviously in the her variety with its pretty pink and white floral label, and Trap a Crap in its camouflage colors belonging to him, just to name a few.

Just squirt 4-6 spritzes in the bowl before ascending the throne, and one is surrounded by pleasing smells.

Naturally I bought it, and amazingly it works. Now I’m tempted to really put it to the test – let’s see now, chili, beans and cabbage ought to do the trick, don’t you think?

Annie Dear, a native of Australia, lives in Lee’s Summit. Email her at anniedearkc@hotmail.com.